Pittsburgh Sports-Themed Cruise Rescues 16 Migrants Near The Gulf Of Mexico

The 2016 “ Legends Of Pittsburgh” cruise disembarked from Miami on Thursday, charting a course through the Keys, then eventually to Cozumel, Mexico. The Legends cruise promises, among other things, that guests can, “Hang at the pool, take selfies, and get autographs with your favorite Pittsburgh athletes!” These athletes include James Harrison, Antonio Brown, Rocky Bleier, Manny Sanguillen, and Ken Wregget. The boat sold out all of its 2,056 spots.

Early yesterday morning, while traversing the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles north of Cuba, the boat encountered an unexpected vessel: a boat carrying 15 men and one woman, heading, presumably, from Cuba to Miami. James Harrison documented the scene.

Here’s a more detailed shot.

The cruise will drop the migrants off at the immigration center in Cozumel, per a statement released by Carnival:

“Earlier today while en route from Key West, Florida, to Cozumel, Mexico, the cruise ship Carnival Sensation rescued 16 individuals (15 males and one female) from a vessel in distress approximately 50 miles off the northern coast of Cuba. The vessel has now resumed course for Mexico where it is expected to arrive this afternoon. Both Mexican and U.S. authorities have been contacted.”

A similar situation happened two weeks ago, when a Cayman Islands-bound Disney cruise picked up a dozen passengers who were fleeing Cuba on an unseaworthy vessel.

Contact the author at patrick.redford@deadspin.com.